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SOFII is an online archive of fundraising best practice and creativity. It is filled with an ever expanding array of easily accessible exhibits, articles, videos, opinion pieces, hints and tips, book reviews and recommendations. The SOFII blog is a place for us to share some thoughts and ideas that might not have an obvious home on the SOFII website. It’s also a place for us to invite guest bloggers to share their views. If you’d like to contribute to our blog please get in touch with sue@sofii.org

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

By Lucy GowerFor me, people either ask if I’m ‘one of those chugger people’ while
slowly backing away, or are incredulous that I work for a charity – which must
mean I don’t get paid – and yet how is it that I manage to live in an expensive
place like London?

The general public have a basic lack of understanding about fundraising.
The majority understand it to be about ‘getting money out of people’ and it is
often, in my experience, perceived as somewhat underhand or in some way against
people’s will. As fundraisers, part of our job is to work harder to help the
general public better understand that fundraising is not just asking for money,
but more about giving people the opportunity to make a difference – to enable
them to make a change in the world.

Only by being inspired can we
inspire other people

Therefore it makes sense to approach our fundraising from a perspective
of how we make a difference rather than simply raising money. Can you be a good fundraiser if your focus is
simply about asking people for money? I think you can do a good job and raise
your targets without a passion for making a difference for your beneficiaries. But
I think that to be a great fundraiser
you have to have to be truly passionate about the cause and the difference that
you are making. Only when you are
passionate can you convey that passion and emotion to someone else. And great
fundraisers know that people make decisions based on emotion.

Charlie Hulme talks about how your own passion is an essential part of
being a great fundraiser in his 101fundraising blog, ‘Why tell a story when youcan tell the truth’. He highlights the importance of getting out
from behind your desk to get inspired about the cause you fundraise for on a
regular basis.

It can be hard to make time to do this when you have tough deadlines, day-to-day
pressures and are reacting to the many demands of your colleagues, volunteers and
donors. It is easy to get worn down by the daily grind, but the great
fundraisers make time to stay inspired.

The partner and friends of Terry Higgins set up the Terrence Higgins
Trustafter he died with AIDS, on 4 July
1982. His doctors didn’t know what was wrong with him and his family – who never
approved of his ‘lifestyle’ – didn’t want to know. His partner, 19 years old
and terrified, had the hospital curtains shut in his face. He wasn’t considered
next of kin.

Terrence
Higgins Trust was founded in Terry’s name, so that others wouldn’t have to
suffer the way he had. Today Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading voice
on HIV and sexual health.

I wanted to
understand a bit more about what inspired the Terrence Higgins Trust
fundraisers so I asked them to bring an object that represented why they do their
job.

They bought an
eclectic range of objects that included

Newspaper cuttings from 1985 depicting AIDS as a killer epidemic showing
how far the organisation has come in educating and supporting people with HIV.

A torch representing a shining light that Terrence Higgins Trust shines
on a subject that is met with prejudice and is unpopular to fundraise for –which
provided an added element of determination and inspiration for many in the team.

Pictures of teenagers – for those in the room with small children who
want to feel assured that their children, when they reach their teenage years,
will have access to information about their sexual health and how to stay safe.

Stories of how Terrence Higgins Trust had helped staff support friends
who had been through a sex change.

A copy of the Gay Times that represented
experiences of how hard it was growing up as a gay man with no support networks
or understanding.

A letter from Maureen who had made a donation in memory of her son
thanking Terrence Higgins Trust for all their work.

Examples of hate mail that is
often generated when appeals about this unpopular topic are launched, such as, ‘Why should I give anything to SELF-INFLICTED
IMMORAL SCUM. At one time these people were killed that’s how it should be
THAT’S the TRUTH’,which just fired the team up to work
harder to educate people about HIV and sexual health.

I also heard
some inspirational words from Stephen Fry at a Terrence Higgins Trust Friends
for Life event, he said,

‘I’m not the
only one here with tear-stained cheeks; it happens every year that someone, or some
people tell stories of their lives with HIV and how Terrance Higgins Trust has
helped them. It doesn’t matter how many times you hear it, each time you are inexpressively
moved, its not just their courage and honesty and bravery but the memory that
it is the kindness of people like you that has allowed them to be there.’

The team was
incredibly open and shared many personal and emotional stories, as well as
their fears and hopes for the future. I had no idea that was going to happen. It
was an emotional experience for us all. What inspired me was that everyone in
that room was connected to the powerful and important work that they do to make
a difference to people with HIV or in need of sexual health services. No one
talked about asking for money.

We all have
work to do to help people understand that fundraising is not just about
‘getting money out of people’. It is about enabling people to make a difference.

PS What object would
you bring to represent why you are inspired by your job? I’d love to know.